Christian Atsu: The Humanitarian Who Lost His Life To Tragic Earthquake

Christian Atsu, former Chelsea and Newcastle winger was found dead nearly two weeks after a horrible earthquake caused his apartment building to collapse in Antakya in February. There will be state funeral for the Ghanaian star in the country’s capital, Accra, who will be remembered for his love for humanity and his contribution in the world of football, thousands of mourners will expected to be in attendance. His body was returned home in Ghana to guard of honour the day after he was found dead in Turkey’s quake rubble on February 18. It is a sad day in Ghana to bid the final goodbye and respect to him, his imprints will be the undying legacy.

Christian Atsu to contribution to humanity shows how humane personified he was, a talented footballer who was making life less difficult for people. Atsu as a philanthropist was donating time and money on regular to organisations in Ghana and the UK. Atsu was a proud donor of UNHCR’s Face to Face fundraising in Ghana. He was in collaboration with global children’s charity Arms Around The Child in 2016, providing funds to construct a new school in Senya Beraku, 84km west of Accra. One of the biggest part of Atsu’s charities was that he never neglected the root he was bred from, he was hell-bent in uplifting the masses.

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For Christian Atsu it was a cause worth fighting for, for him it is not how much you have in your pockets but the how many people you were able to put smiles on their faces that make the difference. Atsu, through the Accra-based Crime Check Foundations ensured the release and reintegration of over 150 imprisoned petty offenders by paying their respective fines and providing capital for hundreds of others, he paid the medical bills. Christian Astu benevolence is a footprint on how he has made a worthy representation from his talent, representing the most vulnerable and downtrodden amongst all.

Christian Atsu had been playing for the Turkish side, Hatayspor club. He played 65 times for the Black Stars and helped his side reach the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, having had spells at English clubs. The reminiscence of Atsu will be anchored in his legacy and fighting a good course worthy of emulation. His widow Marie-Claire Rupio and three children survived him, the tragic quake that led to the Atsu’s will be always be a sombre day in the history having claimed more than 50,000 lives in Turkey and Syria. The discussion on how Christian Atsu be immortalize in Ghana will be underway.